On-Set Terms Actors Should Know

Squibs, goofs, martini- there is a whole world of new language to be found shooting on a film set. For any newcomers and seasoned vets, this is a chance to brush up or introduce yourself to the some of the terms and speech of filmmakers that all actors need to know.
Take a look at some of the top terms put together by the team at IPM for filming below to start being ready for your next day on set!

Action

As classic, and the number one  filmmaking term actors need to know. This is your cue as an actor to start the scene. This could be a movement or a delivery of a line but as the word implies, it is time to get moving. Usually delivered by the director, or the 1st AD, who follows the end of a take with a loud “CUT!” when it's time to stop the scene (and cameras) from rolling.

Pick Up

​To start the scene in a specific spot, usually already into the scene by several minutes. When running through a scene, there can be some mishaps even if a take is seemingly fine at first. This could mean reshooting only the second half of a scene, when the first half is fine. This saves filming time and makes continuity easier to maintain.

Blocking

​Blocking or blocking a shot is basically the camera positioning process that the director, lighting crew and D.P (director of photography) must work out per each movement and position of all involved in a scene. This helps coordinate all aspects of filming ahead of time so minimal adjustments need to be made.

Sides

​This is basically a condensed version of the overall script you should have learned, just the section that is being filmed that day is in this copy. It makes the referral to the scene easier for both production crew and actor to have it on hand, rather than the much larger original format. This is also a term used in casting for audition scripts that are selected specifically for a character.

Roll-Up

​A perfect way to get all quiet on set without screaming or shushing everyone around…. this lets everyone in the immediate vicinity that cameras are about to start rolling and there should be no talk or movement. Again, an effective, yet simple technique that ensures audio is maintained and less reshoots are necessary. This may be followed up with a 'Quiet and Still please' for busier sets.

First Positions

You can likely guess what this term means from its self-explanatory title- and no it is not a ballet step! It is yours (and everyone else’s- co-stars, extras, etc) first position in a scene and where you will begin your lines/movement from a specific point on set if there is movement. A director may even halt a scene and want to start it “from the top” and require all on set to return to first positions. 

Wrap

Now any movie lovers will know that this golden word symbolises the end of a long day of shooting; hearing “And that’s a wrap” tends to elicit tired cheers and applause from the crew and actors. As you can tell it means to wrap things up and shows that all shooting for that production has ceased and it is time to pack up equipment and go home as everything is taken over by post production. 

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